jeffersonia

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A genus of Berberidaceœ, containing two species of herbaceous plants, one American and one Chinese. These plants have a perennial rhizome, bearing leaves with long stalks and singular, two-divided blades, the solitary flowers borne upon naked scapes. The flower has 4 petal-like sepals, which fall as the bud opens, 8 petals, and 8 stamens. The one-celled and many-seeded capsule opens near the top as if by a lid. J. diphylla, called twinleaf, is an interesting plant, wild in the eastern interior of the United Status, its white blossoms, an inch wide, appearing in April or May. From reputed stimulating properties, the plant is sometimes named rheumatism-root. It is also thought to possess tonic and emetic properties.

Wiktionary

1. n. Any of several herbs of the genus Jeffersonia

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (Bot.) An American herb with a pretty, white, solitary blossom, and deeply two-cleft leaves (Jeffersonia diphylla); twinleaf.